Trading in Thailand

Great place to live? What about medical care? Access to physicians? Health insurance? Hospitals? Cost of prescription drugs? What if you require a specialized diagnostic or treatment procedure? Is the technology up to western standards? I don't think so. Its a romantic thought, but loses its shine quickly when you have to live day by day in the real world. I'll stay in the USA Thanks, Steve46

Great place to live? What about medical care? Access to physicians? Health insurance? Hospitals? Cost of prescription drugs? What if you require a specialized diagnostic or treatment procedure? Is the technology up to western standards? I don't think so. Its a romantic thought, but loses its shine quickly when you have to live day by day in the real world. I'll stay in the USA Thanks, Steve46

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The good hospitals are first class, and technology would be as up to date as anywhere. The waiting lines are non-existant.
I live in Japan where hospitals are good too, but prefer treatment in thailand as the doctors are trained in USA , and speak excellent English.

Of course they have all kinds of modern crap.
BUT, they use dollars to buy everything imported from USA
Euros to buy everything imported from Euroland.
Yen for Japanese stuff, etc., etc.
So, what's this bullshit that it's *much* cheaper living "over there"?

Wake up!

Are you going to live in some hut, walk/ride a bike, and only live off of *locally* produced stuff?

Most likely not, which means when people say, the dollar is worth so much there or the Euro can buy me that much in that place, is all fantasy crap from people dreaming of some faraway place with *NO* idea what its like to live there!

Just go visit the place for 2-3 mos and check it out for yourself.

Quote from roberk:

Here is an example if you need kidney dialysis.
Same level for heart care etc..

If you are married to a Thai, like I am, and she still carries a Thai passport-the import taxes are nil as long as you take one each of something to live there. Including vechiles. Life can be good over there with my golf clubs.

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I been there more than 10 times, each for 2 monthe stay.
and got more addicted everytime with the place.

25k won't get you very far over here. it's inexpensive, but not that much so. apartment for $150 a month? don't think so. possible, but do you want hot water? what about a/c? a view? bkk is relatively expensive - figure $400 - $1000 for a nice place. the beaches? that's $120 r/t to phuket or samui, plus hotels, plus airport taxes, plus taxi, etc. you're going to have to leave the country every 90 days for visa purposes (yes, even if you have a one-year), that's $150 r/t each time. like to hit the bars? what about a cell phone? you won't be cooking at home so figure every meal out. what if you get tired of eating at street stalls? that's another $10 a day. don't want to walk everywhere? another $5 a day for transport. if you have a weakness for bargirls, that can really add up. you'll be up all night (bonds open at 8:20 pm and equities close at 4:15 am) so you'll have your days free. the golf is great - greens fees are cheap, but you'll have a caddy and that's another tip. don't forget you've got to pay to get to the course in the first place. all in , figure $50 a round. you'll need an internet connection, they've got adsl but it's expensive and won't be like broadband back home, the pipe in and out of the us to thailand is small. decent dialup will cost about $60 a month.

the point is that it all adds up. overall, a lot less expensive than the states but you probably won't be able to stay for several years on 25k - maybe one.

a great place to live though.

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If you want to live in Farang ghetto like "shukumvit",
expanses can be doubled. I'm sure one can find a
decent place for 150$ to live in thai nighbourhood
and another 50$ for utilities. Eating western food all
the time can add up and make real differance say
like extra Bhat10k-15k.

Those who want to leave in thailand should try to
fit into thai soceity like surviving on thai food, geting
to learn thai, learn to how to mix with thais, and know
how to cut down on expanses.

Yes, i belive he can't go beyond 1.5 year with $25K budget.
But if he is able to draw another $50-100 a day on average
from market, then he can even party all the time.

Great place to live? What about medical care? Access to physicians? Health insurance? Hospitals? Cost of prescription drugs? What if you require a specialized diagnostic or treatment procedure? Is the technology up to western standards? I don't think so. Its a romantic thought, but loses its shine quickly when you have to live day by day in the real world. I'll stay in the USA Thanks, Steve46

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yes, a great place to live - i've been here almost three years. i lived in manhattan before this and boulder colorado before that. i prefer it here.

medical care - first rate. bumrungrad in bkk is the top hospital in all of southeast asia. there are excellent hospitals and dental clinics all over. i recently had a tooth bonded ($20) by a georgetown dental grad. prescription drugs are practically free. why? the us (customer/patient) pays all r&d costs. that's one reason drugs are cheaper in canada and mexico. blue cross insurance is available and inexpensive.

at the end of the day however, it is the third world but i stand behind my statement that it is a great place to live. not for everyone...but still shining for me.

Of course they have all kinds of modern crap.
BUT, they use dollars to buy everything imported from USA
Euros to buy everything imported from Euroland.
Yen for Japanese stuff, etc., etc.
So, what's this bullshit that it's *much* cheaper living "over there"?

Wake up!

Are you going to live in some hut, walk/ride a bike, and only live off of *locally* produced stuff?

Most likely not, which means when people say, the dollar is worth so much there or the Euro can buy me that much in that place, is all fantasy crap from people dreaming of some faraway place with *NO* idea what its like to live there!